So how worn out can a nightgown get? After 5+ years, it turns out very. A few months ago, my two go-to nightgowns finally died. I kept spilling out of their stretched-out necklines, and they were so faded and scraggly that I had to admit they belonged in our rag pile instead of on me.
I vaguely remembered it being a challenge to find a nightgown the last time I went shopping for one, which must be why I stuck with the last two for so long, but I couldn’t remember what was so hard. It seems like it should be so simple. All I wanted was another simple chemise or calf-length gown. I don’t like long gowns that twist around my legs, and two-piece sets are okay, but they never seem pretty or feminine to me. So add “pretty and feminine” to the list.
And of course I want it to make me look good. And that’s why it’s so hard to find one.
If it were simply matter of finding a pretty nightgown that fit, I would settle immediately on an Eileen West gown like this one.
You can pluck one of these off the rack and know it will fit without even trying it on. However, if you’re big-boobed, you can also know that those accommodating gathers above the bosom will exaggerate your large bust in a very unsexy way. This style should look elegant, floaty, Victorian (a la Downton Abbey), but on me, it only looks matronly.
This raises another item on my list that isn’t a must-have, but a very strong wish:Â an element of fantasy and pretend.
A nightgown is the one “dress” I’m meant to wear without a bra. It’s my chance to experiment with all sorts of backs and necklines and armholes that are off limits in everyday clothes.
Finally, there’s one more item on my list. Ideally, the nightgown will cost less than $50. For something that I wear nightly for 26 weeks of the year, that’s an insane cost-per-wear expectation, but I can’t help it. Except for lounge-y weekend mornings, sleepwear only gets seen for a few minutes at night and a few minutes in the morning. I prefer to spend more money on clothing that gets more visibility. But if I fall in love with something over $50, I can easily justify its purchase.
Just as I remembered, it was HARD WORK locating a nightgown that met these five criteria, but I ultimately succeeded. In my next few posts, I’m going to show you what I found along the way.
How about you? What’s on your wish list and what are your must-haves for sleepwear?
I broke down and bought two sleep tops from Bravissimo this spring. They’re alright but just alright, they’re either too low (I would love to find a full busted brand that’s also petite friendly) or are so blousey I feel like I’m hiding something. Right now I want PJs that I can feel comfortable taking Olive out to do her morning business in the common area. I like the idea of nightgowns but I’m so clumsy when I have to get up in the middle of the night that the extra fabric would be a tripping hazard. Maybe I should get a dressing gown.
I did make a nightgown for my mom for Christmas- she picked the pattern (typical 80s/90s yoked and gathered gown akin to FLDS dresses) and I picked the material (warm and fuzzy flannel. Most unflattering piece of clothing possible. Without any sort of waist definition there is simply no hope of being flattering (I am counting bias as definition for this purpose.)
Petite-friendly would be WONDERFUL. I’m working with a petite customer for one of my shirts right now. Some day I hope to have it down to a formula for petite customizations.
I felt “meh” about the Bravissimo sleep tops I tried last year . . . not excited enough to keep them, but I would have been able to walk outside the house in them. Which style was actually blousey on you???
That is so funny about the nightgown you made for your mom.
I think they called it the lace racerback? It has a drawstring at the bottom and no waist definition. It was nice when I was recovering from the stomach flu but I’m pretty sure that’s not what they were going for when they designed it.
No, I’m sure that’s not what they were going for. Have you checked out some of the Midnight Grace tops? I wonder if they’d work for dog walking or if this run into the same issues with neckline.
I think it would have the same problem- the models, who I assume where straight sizes, have enough cleavage in the stock photos that I imagine I’d be showing the neighbors a bit much if I have to pick up something.
Once I get around to getting a serger, good knit sleep pieces are on my to-sew list. Shame my current machine eats knits (might be a tension problem, I need to get it in for a check up.)
The Soma.com website has great sleepwear for busty women!! I love their gowns and camisole sleep tops. Also amazing is the cool nights fabric because the fabric wicks away moisture unlike cotton which stays clammy and cold! Great stuff…
I’ll try to check them out. Thanks for the tip, spacegeek!
a topic I am utterly clueless about because of our sleeping culture here but as for my go to when just popping out the door to take the dog out in the morning I usually just throw on a maxi dress to look at least somewhat normal 🙂
A maxi like you wrote about here? I remember being so jealous of your loungewear options when I read this post.
Aaah, I’ve found a trick with this one – what you need is to find sundresses (so in the sales now or TJ Maxx etc) that are the shape and style of the white cotton nightdress pictured, but where the dress body part ie not the neckline or straps, is made from a decent weight of cotton jersey. Thin and soft enough to be a comfy night time solution but with enough weight to help it hang properly and not stick out everywhere like the lightweight, stiffer cotton. I got a fab one from urban outfitters that was about £20 in the sale (we never have as good sales as the US stores!) and has fishnet mesh shoulder straps and square neck trim, and three little buttons at the front. In the UK M&S does loads of styles like that, English Rose style. Might be worth a look.